Come the Navratra’s and we start preparing our mind and kitchen for the fasting process. But have you ever acknowledged the science behind the fasting ritual and the right way to do it. Nine days of fasting is acknowledged twice by Hindus all across the world especially Indian subcontinent. Every Indian state has its own custom and tradition of celebrating Navratri. The nutritionist in me realised that this fasting ritual is practiced twice in a year, both at the onset of a new season, once before winters and second at the beginning of summers. Is it possible that our vedic gyanis realized the importance of detoxifying the body and removing water retention? Yes they did! This fasting ritual twice a year started with the fact that the Indian staple diet consists of heavy carbs along with pulses whereas Navratri diet is wheat and protein free constituting of simple starches, with easy to digest vegetables and dairy along with fruits. Common salt is replaced with potassium rich Sendha Namak and food preparation is simplified avoiding braising, roasting and baking. Navratri diet is a perfect antidote to flushing out water retention, toxins and also shedding 1-2 Kgs which have piled up due to wrong doings of the previous season.
Here are a few tips on how to keep your waistline slim and body healthy without starving during the Navratri’s.
- For those who fast all nine days, it is important to eat small meals at regular intervals. This will keep your metabolism in top shape.
- Avoid fried foods and include more of yogurt, smoothies, lassi and fruits which not only will keep you full but maintain the optimum fluids in the body.
- Instead of puri or pakodas (both fried) made from Kuttu atta, try out Kuttu ki roti, replace fried aloo-chat with boiled aloo-chat and kheer with mixed-fruit curd or flavored yogurt.
- If you are a foodie and want to please your palate, make some idli and dosa from the samak ke chawal.
- Limit your potato intake (which is main food during navratri) to about twice a week.
- Dishes which require the whole milk can be cooked with skimmed milk or double toned milk.
- Substitute sugar in sweet dish with a low calorie sweeteners or natural sugars.
- Keep drinking water, coconut water, lemonade (without sugar), herbal teas …as much as you can. It works as a great detox.
- Eat veggies like pumpkin and ghia (bottol guard) in different form like soups and curries to fill you up with fewer calories.
- Use rajgira flour to make chapattis instead of using kuttu ka atta.It’s lighter and low in calories.
- Look out for innovative navratri recipes such as kadhi, Thalipeeth and cheelas. These can be made with very minimal oil and are delicious to eat too.
- Make friends with fruits this navratri. Try including fresh fruits in your diet in various forms of salads, smoothies and raitas to keep up with your nutrition. Fruits have healthy sugar fructose. Seasonal fruits boosts the immunity,fibre, iron and B6 intake 2 supercharge your metabolism.
- Instead of having namkeens and pakodas as snacks, have a handful of roasted makhanas , Dhokla or a handful of nuts like almonds, pistachios, walnuts or hazalnuts.
- Lower your Cravings with low fat dairy. Drinking low fat milk, lassi and yogurt reduces your cravings to eat junk food Add cucumber, lauki or tomato to your yogurt to make it more filling.
- Exercise portion control Keep your guilt trips to minimum by practicing portion control. Choose healthy food and keep your portions under control.
For Navratra WEIGHT LOSS Diet plan please visit our website or write to us after all Fasting is an opportunity to lose weight besides receiving blessings of worshipped Goddess. Among other considerable benefits of fasting include body detoxification, rest for vital body mechanisms, purifying gastro-intestinal tract, cleansing of body organs and balancing metabolic constituents.